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When It Comes to the Environment, There Really Is No Such Thing as a “Good” Car
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this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2024
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*in the USA I bet this is pretty different in countries that have kept up with switching the grid to renewables.
Even still, each battery pack and the 6,000lb car put more strain on the mines, factories, and roads. Those resources could be used for stuff like ebikes where you only need a fraction of the power to get the bike to move forward.
EVs have their place, but eventually we are going to have to reckon with a post-car reality. Building trans, trams, BRTs (fast bus lines) and bike lanes will make cities faster to get around, without having to own a vehicle to get groceries a mile down the road. Making sidewalks comfortable and wider will also make stuff feel less shitty.
We'll probably get to a point where you can rent a vehicle if you really need it for remote areas, but day to day, you can pocket that insurance/maintenance/fuel/depreciation money and use it on something else.
Absolutely clueless American take on the average size of a car 😂
EVs are heavy. While they vary by make and model, the sedans like Lucids around Vancouver BC and WA weigh 5,200lbs without any cargo, bike racks, ski racks, or people in it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_Air
Sedans to SUVs also weigh in the 3,500-5,200 lbs when empty. https://electrek.co/2021/08/02/how-much-does-a-tesla-weigh-comparing-each-model/
Electric trucks (not pickups) are also getting more popular, and will also need to be factored into things like updated crash barriers, bridges, offramps and older city roads built on top of thin concrete structures from the 1900s. It's going to cost cities a lot of money if we don't emphasize a reduction in cars and trucks going forward. We should be pushing rail and bikes harder.